Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 23 : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that any foreigner, including Muslim, can apply for Indian citizenship, because there is no amendment in that clause of the Citizenship Act.
Addressing the media here today, Dr Jitendra Singh said, deliberate disinformation is sought to be induced in the minds of innocent masses, which has, in turn led to needless misgivings amongst certain sections. Referring to the Citizenship Act of 1955, he said, there is provision for any foreigner living in any part of the world, regardless of his or her religion, to apply for citizenship of India as long as he or she fulfills the eligibility criteria as per Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
It makes no difference, said Dr Jitendra Singh, whether a foreigner belongs to Italy or Pakistan, as far as the right to apply for Indian citizenship is concerned, subject to the eligibility criteria laid down in the Law. He pointed out that even during the last five and half years of the Modi government, there have been instances, when foreigners were granted Indian citizenship in response to their applications and such citizenship was also granted to Muslim applicants of Pakistani origin.
It is strange, said Dr Jitendra Singh, that even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his public rally in Delhi yesterday, explained in detail the various aspects of the issue, the leaders of Congress Party vehemently refuse to accept it. He said, regardless of whichever political party or ideology we subscribe to, as citizens of India it is expected of us to trust what the Prime Minister of India says and added, there can be no cure or redemption for such motivated elements who refuse to trust their own democratically elected Prime Minister.
Instead of raising finger or questioning the intention of their own government, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Congress leaders and their allies would have rather been expected to question the intention and conduct of the powers-that-be in Islamabad who had blatantly backed out of the Nehru-Liaquat Ali Pact of 1950. It is a strange predicament, he said, that instead of questioning Pakistan for having backed out of its commitment given to India to safeguard the interests of the minorities in that country, the Congress leaders are instead questioning the Government of India which has steadfastly stood by its commitment, not only because of the 1950 Pact, but also because of the ethos of secularism and tolerance envisaged in the Indian Constitution.
It is now left to the news analysts and commentators to decide whether the Congress Party is speaking on behalf of India or on behalf of Pakistan, quipped Dr Jitendra Singh.
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